The 2016 Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention delegation visited Tonga ^Featured

The delegation of 13 students and 3 leaders arrived Nuku’alofa on Wednesday, 17 August under APCC’s mission project to build bridges of friendship with local children as “Junior Ambassadors”, are hosted, by the Ministry of Education and Training of Tonga.

His Excellency, during the courtesy call emphasized the long standing cordial ties between Imperial and Royal Household of Japan and Tonga. In sharing cultural knowledge, His Excellency highlighted Tonga’s national attire the “ta’ovala” and “kiekie” the wrap around mat worn by Tongans to show their respect.

He was pleased to see the children’s excitement with their mission, and wished them to feel the cultural difference between Japan and Tonga and to bring the experience back to Japan as their own good memories.

The delegation whilst in Nuku’alofa witnessed the soroban competition held for Western Schools in Tongatapu, on Thursday, 18 August a joint initiative of the Embassy of Japan and Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training. Their six day mission comprised of home stay, school visit and tour around the island.

APCC was founded by the Fukuoka Junior Chamber of Japan in 1989, as a civic movement with objective primarily for children of Japan and of countries from Asia and Pacific region to gain mutual understanding of different cultures and traditions through home stays and cultural exchanges.

Funded by local governments as well as supported by donations from corporate sponsors, children from 40 countries and region annually travel to Fukuoka, Japan to join the APCC Invitation project. Primary students from the Kingdom have constantly invited to the APCC projects, and this year students from Lavengamalie Primary School joined the project.

For Japanese delegation, this is the second time to visit the Kingdom since 2013.

APCC delegation with local APCC invited participants 2016

-Embassy of Japan, Tonga